Arya.
Today was a good day, indeed. I had decided to explore the mansion since I had nothing on my schedule and I had stumbled upon this hidden sanctuary. The Crest Mansion library. A freaking library! Could my day get any better?
I giggled as I glanced around the large space with shelves filled with books of different sizes and colors.
At least I won't have to deal with boredom.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long, golden streaks across the intricate patterns of the Persian rug beneath my feet.
The library, tucked away in the south end of the mansion, had a historic feel to it. Its walls were lined with shelves upon shelves of books, their spines adorned with faded titles and elegant calligraphy. The air was heavy with the scent of old parchment, mingling with the faint aroma of cedarwood from the polished bookcases. Tall bookshelves stretched towards the vaulted ceiling, where dust motes danced in the gentle breeze that drifted through the open windows.
I reached out, my fingers trailing along the spines of the books on a shelf as I perused the titles. Some were bound in leather, their covers embossed with intricate designs, while others were paper-bound, their covers faded from age.
I selected a book at random, its cover worn and frayed from years of use, and settled onto a nearby cushion, my legs tucked beneath me.
Lost in the words, I barely noticed when day became dawn until a sharp rap at the door broke the spell. I looked up, my brow furrowing in confusion as a guard burst into the room, his expression frantic.
My heart quickened its pace, a cold knot of dread forming in the pit of my stomach. What could have happened to cause such an alarm?
"Luna," he gasped, his voice strained with urgency. "There's a commotion at the northern border of the pack. You're needed at once."
I blinked, the words sinking in slowly as my mind raced to catch up. The peace I had felt seemed to fade away, replaced by a sense of unease that settled like a lead weight in my chest. I rose to my feet, the book slipping from my fingers and landing with a soft thud on the cushion beside me.
"Of course," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside me. "Lead the way."
As we hurried through the corridors of the mansion, my thoughts were consumed by worry. I glanced at a large window facing the northern border and saw smoke curling in the distance. It was clear that something had gone terribly wrong.
"What happened?" I asked as we turned a corner, my heart pounding in my chest.
The guard, his face tense with concern, spared me a fleeting glance before focusing on the path ahead. "Wild wolves, Luna," he explained, his voice grim. "They attacked the guards stationed at the border and set fire to the nearby houses."
My breath caught in my throat. Wild wolves. Why would wolves attack Crest pack?
With Tyler in Rogue pack, it fell to me to restore order and protect the pack.
The weight of responsibility pressed down on me as we emerged from the mansion into the cool night air. My eyes swept over the courtyard, where guards hurried to assemble, their expressions grim and determined. I knew that they looked to me for guidance, and I couldn't afford to let them down.
"Prepare to move out," I commanded, my voice ringing clear and authoritative across the courtyard. "We must contain the threat before it spreads further."
The guards sprang into action, their movements swift and purposeful as they loaded into waiting cars and trucks. But as I moved to join them, a hand on my arm brought me to a sudden halt.
"Luna," the guard said, his voice low but urgent. "There's a shorter route to the border. I know it well. Let me take you there."
I regarded him with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. His offer was unexpected, but in this moment of crisis, there was no time to hesitate.
"What's your name?" I asked, meeting his gaze head-on.
"Ryan, Luna," he replied, his eyes unwavering.
"Very well, Ryan," I replied. "Take me to the border."
He nodded, a faint smile touching his lips as he held open the door of the nearest vehicle. I climbed inside, the engine roaring to life beneath me as Ryan took his place behind the wheel.
The journey was tense, each passing moment filled with the anticipation of what lay ahead. I watched the landscape blur by, my mind racing with thoughts of what awaited us at the border.
But despite the fear and uncertainty that gnawed at my insides, I refused to let it show. I was Luna, and it was my duty, in Tyler's absence, to protect them no matter the cost.
As we neared the border, a sense of unease settled over me like a shroud, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end as if warning me of impending danger. I peered out into the darkness, searching for any sign of the commotion that had led us here, but all I could see was the desolate landscape stretching out before us, empty and foreboding.
Something wasn't right, I could feel it in my bones, a primal instinct screaming at me to turn back. Ryan pulled the car to a stop, the abruptness of the motion jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. He stepped out to open the door before I could say anything.
He turned to me, his expression inscrutable as he gestured toward the door.
I stepped out onto the cold, my senses on high alert as I scanned the deserted landscape for any sign of movement. But all was still, the only sound was the soft whisper of the wind as it danced through the trees.
"Ryan," I said as I turned to face him. "Are you sure we're at the right place?"
But he had already slipped into the driver's seat, his movements deliberate yet tinged with an unsettling haste. His eyes, usually steady and reassuring, now betrayed a hint of apprehension as he avoided my gaze. The engine's growl drowned out my question as he shifted gears and drove off.
What the fuck was happening?
The other guards were not here yet and the border was unusually quiet for somewhere that was under attack.
Then it hit me. I was at the wrong part of the border. But why would Ryan do something like that?
And then, from out of the shadows, a voice pierced the silence, mocking and filled with malice. "Hello sister, missed me?"
My blood ran cold at the words, a shiver coursing down my spine as I turned to face the source of the voice.
You've got to be kidding me.
Alison?